Guided missile toy



April 24, 1956 H. S. MARAS ETAL 2,742,734

' GUIDED MISSILE TOY Filed Feb. 3, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS. HENRYS. MARAs and RUTH 0. MA RAS,

ATTORNEYS.

April 24, 1956 H. s. MARAS ETAL 2,742,734

GUIDED MISSILE TOY Filed Feb. 5, 1954 I 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS:

HEN/9Y5. MA RAS and Ru TH 0. MA RA 5,

@eau/ MYQWI 4 77"OR/VEFS.

United States Patent C GUIDED MISSILE TOY Henry S. Matas and Ruth 0. Maras, Hamburg, N. Y.

Application February 3, 1954, Serial No. 407,850

12 Claims. (Cl. 46-74) The invention relates generally to toy devices and more particularly to an improved guided missile toy arranged to project a missile along selectively angularly adjustable paths from a launching platform, for example to a target which is adapted to be detachably mounted remotely of said platform. 1

A primary object of the invention is to provide an improved rocket launching site in a toy of the character referred to having pivotally mounted propulsion means adapted to permit selective angular adjustments of the rocket aiming mechanism. I

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved toy of the character referred to which is adapted to be manufactured at low unit cost.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved toy of the character referred to which is simple, rugged and durable.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved toy of the character referred tocomprising, in combination, a pivotally mounted missile launching device being connected outwardly of the pivot axis to one end of a guide line, the other end of said guide line being connected to target means adapted to be secured at points remotely of said launching device and putting said guide line under tensile load stress, missile means coupled to said guide line, force means, and latch means adapted to releasably hold said missile means against the urge of said force means.

Further objects and advantages will'be apparent in view of the specification hereinafter.

In the drawing:

Fig. l is a perspective view showing an embodiment of the invention with the rocket launching device in cocked condition;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the device of Fig. 1 in released or fired condition; and

Fig. 3 is an elevational view showing the embodiment of Fig. 1 partially in section and being operatively connected by a guide wire, or the like, to a simulated planet replica.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing, the embodiment of the invention therein is shown to comprise a rocket launching frame device being pivotally mounted on a simulated rocket launching site 12 having a plurality of spaced suction cup mountings 14 fixed to the bottom thereof for detachable mounting for example on a table 16 (Fig. 3). A simulated planet replica 18 having a plurality of suction cup mountings 20 fixed to the bottom thereof, for detachable connection at various posi tions on a wall 22 and a ceiling 24, is shown to be connected to the frame device 10 by means of a tensioned guide string or wire 26 having a simulated rocket 28 loosely fitted thereon and arranged to travel along the length thereof between the frame device 10 and the planet replica 18.

The rocket launching frame 10 may be formed for example from strips of suitable plastic material such as polystyrene, or the like, being secured together by a suit- 2,742,734 Patented Apr. 24, 1956 able cement as is well known in the art. Thus, the frame 10 comprises a pair of opposed support members 3234 cemented together at one end to provide a forwardly ex-,

tending rocket aligning support 36, the members 32,34 then being bent laterally outwardly in opposed directions to form a base portion 38 and then angularly forwardly to provide a pair of outwardly extending supportarm portions 4042. (Figs. land 2). v

As shown in Fig-s. 1 and 2, a pair of rigid support struts 4446'are fixed to extend from the base of the rocket support to the ends of the support arms 40-42, respectively, and in slightly overlapping relation therebeyond. A stub pin is then cemented at the outer end of each of the arms 40, 42 in nesting relation against the overlapping strut portions thereat as shown at 4848 and having one end portion 50 of each thereof protruding downwardly of the rocket support 36. A launching frame mounting member 52 is fixed to thebottom of the base portion 38 with its opposite end portions 54 and 56 extending outwardly beneath the angularly related arms 32 and 34, respectively. These end portions 54 and 56.are journalled in a pair of spaced tubular frame supports 58 and 60, respectively, which are fixed in aligned relation with each other to the top of the simulated launching site 12.

The member 12 preferably will be shaped out of generally planiform plastic. sheet materialsuch as polystyrene, or the like, into generally obtuse-angled triangular form which may be suitably decorated to realistically simulate anactual rocket launching site.

The rocket 28 preferably will be molded into a hollow,

cylindrical main body portion 64 closed off at its forward end and having a plurality of wind fins 66 at its rear end arrangedto extend radially outwardly at spaced intervals along the circumference of the main body portion 64. An annular ridge 68 extends radially outwardly circumferentially of the rocket body portion 64adjaceut the back end thereof to provide a rocket hold down shoulder thereat for maintaining the rocket in cocked position when it is backed down over the rocket aligning support 36.

The motive power for hurling the rocket outwardly of the frame launching device 10 is shown tobe supplied by a taut rubber band 70 stretched over the protruding ends 50-50 of the pins 48-48 (Fig. 2). The rubber band 70 is adapted to be elastically deformed within its elastic limits by the back end of the rocket to apositio'nf inwardly of the frame 10 along the arms 44. and 46 (Fig. 1) incidental to the mounting of therocket into the aforesaid cocked position. v i

As shown in Figs. 1 and 3, the rocket 28 preferably will be maintained in cocked position against the urge of the elastically deformed rubber band 70 bymeans of a yieldable latch device 72. The latch device 72 is shown to comprise a latch support member 74 which is fixed ridge 68 of the rocket 28 to hold the latter in a cooked position under the overbalanced urge of a bow spring 84.

One end of the spring 84 is shown to be fixed to the opposite end of the lever 78 as indicated at 86 while its opposite end is adapted to bear against the support member 74 with a force sufficient to counteract the resilient urge of the rubber band 70 acting on the rocket.

The guide line 26 may be made of an elastic cord, or'

the like, which is loosely threaded through a centrally located aperture 88 in the closed end wall of the rocket 28, being fixed at one end to the upper portion of the rocket support 36 while being connected at its other end to a stop device 90 which is fixed to the planet replica 18. Thus, it will be appreciated that the firing angle of the frame will in each case be determined according to the relatively remote positional alignments of the simulated launching site 12 and the planet target 18 when they are spaced apart a sufficient distance to put the guide line under tensile load stress. Of course, the guide line 26 may be comprised of a relatively stiff steel wire being connected internally of the planet replica as for example to a spring actuated slack take-up and wire tensioning device (not shown) whereby the rocket may be adapted to ride therealong with less friction or nodal interference from the wave patterns created in the line as a result of movement of the rocket thereon.

Thus, the simulated launching site 12 may be adapted to be detachably fixed to a table by means of the suction cups 14 and then the planet target 18 similarly may be mounted on a wall or ceiling to place the guide line 26 under tensile load stress as shown for example in Fig. 3. The rocket 28 is then backed down to elastically deform the rubber band 70 by the back end of the rocket inci dental to mounting the rocket over the rocket support 36 to be releasably retained thereat by the latch mechanism 72 as hereinabove described. Firing of the rocket may then be accomplished by simply squeezing the trigger lever portion 86 against the support member 74 whereupon the rocket will be propelled along the guide line into abutment with the stop 90 at the surface of the planet replica 18, thereby realistically simulating an actual firing of a rocket projectile toward a planet target, or the like.

It will be appreciated to be a particular feature of the invention that the toy of the invention may be arranged to propel a rocket along selectively variable inclined paths, as for example is shown by the dotted line positions of the device in Fig. 3, simply by shifting the place of mounting of the target 18 to various points on a wall or ceiling remotely of the launching frame 10 whereupon the tensioned guide line 26 will automatically aim the rocket toward the target.

It is another feature of the invention that the toy device is adapted to be made without resort to expensive and complex machinery whereby it may be manufactured cheaply and with minimum capital investment in plant, materials and equipment.

Therefore, it will be understood that although only one particular form of the invention has been shown and described in detail, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the invention is not so limited but that various modifications and changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invetnion or the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A guided rocket propulsion toy comprising a launching platform having suction cup holding means, a rocket launching frame pivotally mounted on said platform and being formed into a forwardly extending rocket support portion having rigid arm portions extending angularly outwardly from the base thereof, shoulder means being provided at the outer end of said arm portions, a rubber band stretched to lie adjacent said rocket support portion by being hooked over said shoulder means, a rocket member having shoulder means at its back end and being recessed thereat so as to be adapted for backing down over said rocket support portion into cocked position while elastically deforming said rubber band, said frame having yieldable latch means releasably engaging said rocket member shoulder means to maintain said cocked position, and a guide line being loosely journaled through said rocket and being connected at one end to said rocket support while having its opposite end adapted for detachable connection remotely of said frame to place said guide line in tension whereupon releasing said latch means will fire said rocket in guided directional alignment with said guide line.

2. A guided missile toy comprising, in combination, a rocket launching device connected by a guide line to a target member adapted to be detachably mounted remotely of said launching device to place said guide line under tensile load stress, a missile device arranged to travel freely along said guide Wire, said rocket launching device being pivotally mounted on a platform adapted for detachable connection to a generally horizontal surface and having resilient means arranged to be deformed within elastic limits while backing said missile member into cocked position, and manually operable latch means arranged to releasably retain said rocket member in said cocked position whereby release thereof will fire said rocket to travel along said guide line toward said target member, the latter being adapted to be connected at various points remotely of said launching device for selectively angularly positioning said guide line and said launching device relative to said platform.

3. A rocket firing toy comprising, in combination, a frame pivotally mounted on a platform having holding means attached to the bottom thereof, a target having holding means fixed to extend therefrom, and a rocket device having a guide line loosely threaded thcrethrough, one end of said guide line being connected to said rocket launching rack forwardly of its pivotal mounting while the opposite end is connected to said target, said frame having manually triggered propulsion means for causing said rocket member to travel along said guide line toward said target which will be fixed remotely of said platform to put said guide line under tensile load stress whereby said launching rack will be aimed at selectively variable angles responsive to the pull of said guide line toward said target and depending upon the position of the latter.

4. A missile launching toy comprising, in combination, an elongate guide line connected at one of its ends to a target means adapted to be detachably fixed at various positions on a wall or the like, the other end of said guide line being connected remotely of said target means to a launching frame means having elastic force means, missile means cooperating with said guide line and adapted to be mounted adjacent said frame while elastically deforming said elastic force means within elastic limits, yieldable latch means mounted on said frame means for releasably restraining said missile means in cocked position, said frame means being pivotally mounted to a base member which is adapted to be detacbably fixed remotely of said target means whereby said guide line will be placed under tensile load stress while simultaneously aiming said frame toward said target means.

5. A guided rocket propulsion toy comprising a simulated planiform generally obtuse-angled triangular launching platform having holding means, a rocket launching frame having a forwardly extending rocket support member flanked on both sides by angularly outwardly extending rigid arm portions, shoulder means at the outer end of each of said arm portions, rubber band propulsion means stretched between the outer ends of said arm portions over the shoulder means thereof, a generally cylindrical rocket member having its forward end enclosed and adapted to be backed down over said rocket support member into cocked position by elastically deforming said rubber band propulsion means, said rocket having an annular ridge externally thereof at its back end, a trigger support member fixed to extend laterally from said frame at the base of said rocket support member, a trigger lever pivotaily mounted intermediate its ends on said trigger support member and having one of its ends adapted to engage said ridge on said rocket, compression spring means connected to the other end of said trigger lever and adapted to releasably restrain said rocket in said cocked position, a simulated planet replica having holding means for mounting on a wall or ceiling being connected by a guideline loosely journaled centrally of the forward closed end'of said rocket to the end of said rocket support member whereby said launching platform and planet replica will be mounted in spaced apart relation to place the guide line in tension whereupon depression of said trigger lever will fire said rocket in guided directional alignment along said guide line toward said planet replica. 3

6. A guided missile toy comprising, in combination, a rocket launching device connected by a guide line to a simulated planet replica which is adapted for detachable mounting by a plurality of suction cups to a generally vertical Wall surface, a simulated rocket member arranged to travel freely along said guide wire, said rocket launching device being pivotally mounted on asimulated rocket launching platform which is adapted for detachable connection by a plurality of suction cups to a generally horizontal surface whereby said launching device will be arranged to be aimed at said planet replica responsive to the tension of said guideline as said planet replica is selectively positionally connected at various points on a generally vertical wall surface, and manually operable trigger means arranged to releasably retain said rocket member in cocked position whereby actuation thereof will fire said rocket to travel in guided relatio alongsaid guide line to said planet replica.

7. A rocket firing toy comprising, in combination, a.

rocket launching rack pivotally mounted on a generally planiform launching platform having suction cup holding means attached to the bottom thereof, a simulated planet replica having suction cup holding means fixed to extend therefrom, and a generally tubular rocket member having its forward end enclosed and having a guide line threaded through a centrally located aperture provided in said enclosed end of said rocket, one end of said guide line being connected to said rocket launching rack while the opposite end is connected to said planet replica, said rocket launching rack including manually triggered propulsion means for firing said rocket member to travel upwardly along said guide line toward said planet replica which is fixed remotely of said launching platform to put said guide line under tension whereby said launching rack will be aimed at selectively variable angles relative to said platform toward said planet depending upon the position of the latter. 7

8. A missile launching toy comprising, in combination, an elongated guide line connected at one of its end to a target means adapted to be detachably fixed at various positions on a wall or the like, the other end of said guide line being connected to a launching frame provided with elastic force means, missile means arranged in cocked position adjacent said frame to elastically deform said elastic forcemeans within elastic limits, said frame being provided with yieldable latch means for releasably restraining said missile means in said cockedposition, said frame being pivotally mounted to a base member adapted to be detachably fixed remotely of said target means whereby said guide line Willbe placed under tensile load stress while simultaneously aiming said frame toward said target means.

9. A guided rocket propulsion toy comprising a simulated rocket launching platform, frame means pivotally mounted on said platform and including resilient force means, target means connected to one end of a guide line, the other end of said guide line being connected to said frame means forwardly of the pivotal mounting thereof,

missile means arranged to ride along said guide line and adapted to deform said resilient force means within elastic limits, yieldable latch means mounted on said frame means and cooperating therewith to releasably retain said missile means in cocked position against the forceof said resilient means, said launching platform and said target means being adapted to be mounted in spaced apart relation so as to place the guide line under tensile load stress whereupon release of said latch means will cause said resilient means to propel said missile means along said guide line toward said target means.

10. A guided missile toy comprising, in combination, a rocket launching device connected by a guide line to simulated planet target means, missile means arranged to travel freely along said guide wire, said rocket launching device including a frame pivotally mounted on a simulated rocket launching platform and having yieldable force means arranged to be deformed by said missile means when in cocked position, the guide line being connected to said frame forwardly of the pivotal mounting thereof, said platform and target means being adapted to be mounted remotely of each other to place the guide line under tensile load stress at selectively variable angles thereof with said frame aimed at said target means, and man- 7 ually operable latch means arranged to releasably retain said rocket member in cocked position against the urge of said force means.

11. A rocket firing toy comprising, in combination, a pivotally mounted rocket launching rack, a simulated planet target means being connected by a guide line to said rack forwardly of its pivotal mounting, and a rocket member, said guide line being loosely threaded through said rocket, said rocket launching rack including means for propelling said rocket member along said guide line toward said planet target means, the latter being adapted to 'be fixed remotely of said rack to put said guide line under tensile load stress whereby said launching rack at all times will be aimed at said planet target irrespective of the position of the latter.

12. A missile launching toy comprising, in combination, elongated guide means connected at one end to a target means and at the other end to a pivotally mounted launching frame forwardly of the pivotal mounting thereof,-mis

sile means adapted to travel along said guide means, force means for'propelling said missile means toward said target means, and latch means for releasably holding said missile means in cocked position against the urge of said force means, said frame and target means being adapted to be detachably fixed remotely of each other to place said guide line under tensile load stress and simultaneously aiming said frame toward said target means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,274,882 Hess Aug. 6, 1918 1,658,888 Forseth Feb. 14, 1928 2,021,395 Watmough Nov. 19, 1935 2,101,276 Walter Dec. 7, 1937 2,349,040 Grant May 16, 1944 2,527,683 Malo Oct. 31, 1950 2,563,969 Skinner Aug. 14, 1951 2,634,127 Shapiro Apr. 7, 1953 

